Method for coloring socket

ABSTRACT

A method for applying a color layer onto a socket includes electrolyzing the socket to apply an electro-deposited coating onto an outer peripheral surface of the socket, grinding a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the socket to remove the electro-deposited coating from the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the socket, and applying a color layer onto the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the socket. A coarse surface is formed on the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the socket after the grinding process, for allowing the color layer to be solidly attached or applied onto the coarse surface of the socket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method, and more particularly to a method for coloring sockets or for applying a color layer onto a portion of the sockets other then the other portion having electro-deposited coating applied thereon.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typically, a socket tool or assembly comprises a number of sockets having different socket openings of different diameters for attaching to and for driving various tool members or fasteners.

For allowing the users to easily choose or select the required sockets, a numeral or an indicia is hammered or punched onto the outer peripheral portion of the sockets, to allow the users to easily select or choose the required sockets. However, it is difficult or inconvenient to hammer or punch the indicia onto the outer peripheral portion of the sockets.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,713 to Arnold discloses another typical socket having a molded elastomeric sleeve carried by the rearward portion of the socket, and having size indicia molded directly thereon to facilitate a quick and convenient indentification and selection of the respective socket from a tool box or kit.

However, the molded elastomeric sleeve may not be solidly attached or secured onto the sockets, and may have a good chance to be disengaged or removed from the sockets, particularly when the sockets are forced to drive or to rotate fasteners or the other tool members.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional method for coloring sockets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a method for coloring sockets or for applying a color layer onto a portion of the sockets where having no electro-deposited coating applied thereon, or for applying a color layer onto the portion of the sockets other then the portion having an electro-deposited coating applied thereon, for allowing the color layer to be solidly attached onto the sockets.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for applying a color layer onto a socket, said method comprising electrolyzing the socket to apply an electro-deposited coating onto an outer peripheral surface of the socket, grinding a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the socket, and applying a color layer onto the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the socket.

It is preferable that a coarse surface is formed on the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the socket after the grinding process, for allowing the color layer to be solidly attached or applied onto the coarse surface of the socket. The other portion of the outer peripheral surface of the socket has the electro-deposited coating applied thereon, such that the color layer may not be applied or attached onto the other portion of the socket.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a socket to be manufactured with a method in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the socket, taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the operation of the method; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the grinding process of the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a method in accordance with the present invention is provided for coloring a socket 10, such as for applying a color layer 19 onto the socket 10, and for allowing the color layer 19 to be solidly attached onto the socket 10. The socket 10 normally includes an opening 11 formed therein and sized to receive various tool members or fasteners (not shown), and an engaging hole 12 formed therein to receive a driving tool (not shown), for allowing the driving tool to rotate or to drive the tool members or fasteners with the socket 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the socket 10 is first disposed in a receptacle 20 for conducting an electrolyzing process, and for applying or attaching an electro-deposited coating 14 onto an outer peripheral surface 13 of the socket 10. The electro-deposited coating 14 is normally formed by metal materials, and includes a smooth outer surface that may not be applied with color thereon.

After applying the electro-deposited coating 14 onto the outer peripheral surface 13 of the socket 10, the peripheral surface 13 of the socket 10 has a portion 15 ground to remove the electro-deposited coating 14 from the socket 10, and to form a coarse surface (15) as shown in FIG. 4, for allowing the color layer 19 to be solidly attached onto the portion 15 of the socket 10 with such as an electroplating process.

It is to be noted that the other portion 16 of the peripheral surface 13 of the socket 10 still has the electro-deposited coating 14 applied or provided thereon, such that the color layer 19 may not be applied or attached onto the other portion 16 of the socket 10 during the electroplating process, and such that the color layer 19 may only be solidly applied or attached onto the portion 15 of the socket 10 with such as the electroplating process.

The color layer 19 may thus be used as a color code to facilitate a quick and convenient indentification and selection of the respective socket from a tool box or kit. A numeral or an indicia may further be formed in the color layer 19 for further facilitating a quick and convenient indentification and selection of the respective socket from a tool box or kit.

The socket made with the method in accordance with the present invention may thus have a color layer 19 solidly attached or applied onto the socket 10, and may prevent the color layer 19 from being removed or disengaged from the socket 10.

Accordingly, the method in accordance with the present invention may be used for coloring sockets or for applying a color layer onto a portion of the sockets where having no electro-deposited coating applied thereon, or for applying a color layer onto the portion of the sockets other then the portion having an electro-deposited coating applied thereon, for allowing the color layer to be solidly attached onto the sockets.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A method for applying a color layer onto a socket, said method comprising: electrolyzing the socket to apply an electro-deposited coating onto an outer peripheral surface of the socket, grinding a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the socket, to remove the electro-deposited coating from the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the socket, and applying a color layer onto the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the socket.
 2. A method for applying a color layer onto a socket, said method comprising: electrolyzing the socket to apply an electro-deposited coating onto an outer peripheral surface of the socket, grinding a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the socket to remove the electro-deposited coating from the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the socket, and to form a coarse surface, and applying a color layer onto the coarse surface of the socket.
 3. A method for applying a color layer onto a socket, said method comprising: electrolyzing the socket to apply an electro-deposited coating onto an outer peripheral surface of the socket, grinding a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the socket, to remove the electro-deposited coating from the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the socket, and to leave the other portion of the outer peripheral surface of the socket having the electro-deposited coating applied thereon, and applying a color layer onto the portion of the socket. 